The Initiate
Page 7
“We’ve found eight, and some littles.”
“There’ll be at least two more lurking around, then.”
Biffy tried to hide her frustrated exhale. Her body ached and she was already covered in the fruit. In the sun, it had quickly dried, making her hair stiff and her body sticky. The last thing she wanted was to have to hunt down more of the vile things.
“I wouldn’t object to a little help from Ralph, if you can spare him now,” Breanna replied, making Biffy wonder if she wasn’t the only one tired out. Gladys frowned, but eventually nodded.
“The rest are shut back up. You can take him.” Gladys walked towards the back garden, calling for Ralph. Biffy had expected to see another person come from the back of the house, possibly as equally covered in decimated produce, but instead a large black bear padded out of nowhere, its tongue lolloping out of its mouth in a dog-like sideways fashion.
“Come on, Ralph,” Breanna said, holding out a hand to pet the bear. “Where’d the other two go?”
Ralph lifted his muzzle and sniffed at the air. Almost immediately, he looked the way they’d come, but Breanna reached out and touched his shoulder, trying to gently prevent him from going that way.
“We’ve dealt with all the tomatoes that way. We need to find the rest,” she said. For a moment Ralph stared at her as if he didn’t understand or know what she was asking. Then he turned around and gave a few more sniffs.
Not long later he started walking, leading them away from the house down a small winding passageway. At first Biffy hesitated, but Breanna acted like this was normal and followed, looking around her for more signs of destruction.
They were several metres down the pathway when Biffy noticed stains of tomato juice on plants, a lamp post, and even on the pavement beside a road.
“Looks like one of them is injured,” Breanna said a moment later, also noticing the trail. It took all of Biffy’s restraint not to laugh aloud. It was exactly the sort of thing someone said in a silly movie or story where the people are about to have a massive confrontation.
Whatever happened, she’d be ready.
Just in case, Biffy drew her sword and kept an eye out. Ralph didn’t move as quickly as she’d have liked, making the journey take even longer, especially given how obvious the trace of juice was to follow. He wasn’t helping them do anything that they couldn’t already do for themselves.
Just as they rounded another corner, a large tomato came into view, bobbing along down a dirt road. Ralph let out a strange barking sound and gambolled down the road after it. Biffy and Breanna had little choice but to run after it, picking up the edges of their habits to prevent tripping.
Before they could even begin to close down on the tomato, Ralph launched himself at it, grabbing one edge between his teeth. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he shook his head back and forth. Tomato splattered everywhere as the skin ripped until he was shaking the limp, rag-like remains.
“Well done, Ralph,” Breanna said. “Who’s a good boy?”
At this Boo squeaked from her shoulder, rushing down her arm. The small rodent grabbed a bit of the tomato that had come flying off and repeated Ralph’s actions before looking up at his owner.
“Yes, Boo. You’re a good boy too.”
Trying to hide her grin at the antics of the two animals, Biffy stepped over the debris and carried on. Ralph fell in beside her, his head coming up to her shoulders. After having a small familiar of her own and not spending much time with anyone who had a larger one, she found it strange that one so large could be walking along with her.
Ralph kept a more sedate pace for a while, sniffing again occasionally, and Biffy was grateful. Her feet were painful, and each stone underfoot felt like a dull nail, especially if she stood on the large tomato seeds.
As they carried on, they once more heard a commotion from somewhere up ahead, shouts mingled with the sound of something wooden breaking.
“That’s not even slowed it down,” someone yelled. “What are these things made of?”
Sniffing the air once more, Ralph looked for the source of trouble, but Biffy was already off, using the noise to work out where to go. She didn’t need to wait for the bear to find it when she could follow the shouting.
Just as she’d have hoped, the final tomato and two smaller ones were bouncing around a small grove of fruit trees. Three people sat up in the branches of a particularly large plum tree.
As soon as they spotted her and Breanna, they started waving frantically, desperate for some help. It spurred Biffy to carry on faster, not wanting to see any harm come to them before she was there to help.
Before they’d finished closing the gap, the smaller tomatoes turned, and like a colony of bees protecting their queen, they bounced, alarmingly quickly and aggressively, towards Biffy.
She lifted her sword and braced for impact, but the inevitable never came, somehow circumvented by Ralph. Once more he shook one of the giant fruit around like it was a favourite toy and he was a dog.
The next one slipped past him, however, and Biffy was knocked off her feet. She expected it to carry on, its momentum taking it past her, but somehow it stopped, turning on Biffy before she could get up. She rolled as it bounced and chased down the street and away from Breanna and the two familiars.
“Hoot,” said Hairwig as she dived past and stabbed the annoying thing. It reeled, more stunned than hurt, but Hairwig’s distraction gave Biffy the opening she needed. She ran it through, splattering the cobblestones with yet more of the disgusting insides. Grinning, she got to her feet.
While Biffy had been tackling the final of the smaller tomatoes, Breanna had charged the larger one. The tree trunk was now covered in goo, chunks dripping down the bark, seeds everywhere. The people in the tree let out a loud cheer, as before their eyes Ralph sat down and started eating some of the sticky-looking seeds.
“Thanks, Ralph,” Breanna said. “And you too, Boo,” she added, the rodent scurrying over to her. Biffy tried to decide what to do next but she wasn’t sure if they should help the people down from the tree, go back to Gladys or clean themselves up.
Breanna appeared to be oblivious to the mess on her clothes and in her hair, or the even worse state Biffy was in, helping the people as if she’d come across them while out for a summer stroll. But eventually the civilians walked off, now calm and composed.
“Should we get back to Gladys?” Biffy asked when Breanna started focusing on Boo and cleaning the tomato off his skin. As much as it was good to take care of a familiar, she was desperate to finish the job and get clean herself. A nice hot shower sounded like a great idea.
Almost as if she agreed, Hairwig flew by, aiming for Biffy’s shoulder until the very last minute. Instead of landing, the owl carried on straight past, flying up to a nearby lamppost and resting there. Biffy gave her familiar a forlorn look. It wasn’t unexpected. Biffy smelled atrocious.
This seemed to be all the encouragement Breanna needed, however. She led the way back to Gladys, Ralph plodding along after them. Already people were emerging from houses, some waving to the two nuns as they walked past. Instantly Biffy felt a hundred feet tall.
Despite the aches and pains. Despite the drying filth covering her. Despite the stench, and despite not yet being a fully fledged nun, Biffy had got to be the hero of the town. And it was a feeling she hoped she’d never forget.
By the time they got back to the source of the aggressive produce, half the town were out, several helping with the clean-up of the streets. Gladys was apologising to anyone who came close, but no one appeared to be angry. If anything, they were being very understanding.
“Give me an hour to finish up with fixing the Renards’ front window,” one man said to Gladys, “then I’ll come put your fence and post box right.”
“Thank you, Killian. You’re a dear. Tell your mother I said hello and I’ve got some more of that tea if she needs it.”
“Will do, Gladys. She’ll be comforted to know.”
As Killian wandered off, Gladys gave them her attention.
“We’ve dealt with all the loose ones,” Sister Breanna said, coming forward. “Need us to help with anything else?”
Gladys shook her head. “You’ve already been most kind. I know my inventions are a bit... strange, but they’re so close to being as useful as my modified wheat.”
“I know, Gladys. Don’t get yourself all upset about it. Accidents happen, and it can take a long time to get these things right. I know God will guide your hand in your help with this fight against evil. He always gives strength to those who need it most. I will pray for your progress.”
“I’ll take whatever help I can get teaching these blasted fruit the difference between human hair and werewolf. And why a smile isn’t a vampire about to attack.”
“Is that why they were chasing humans?” Biffy asked, feeling brave enough to ask her first question. Gladys nodded. The whole thing was a strange sort of crazy, but after fighting the creatures, she wasn’t sure she’d dismiss anything.
“We should return to the academy,” Sister Breanna said, more to her than Gladys. Biffy nodded, sighing. She’d enjoyed leaving the confines of the same building after being there so many weeks. Despite being covered in fruit mush.
Hairwig followed them, still refusing to land on Biffy’s shoulder, but making sure she wasn’t left behind. Breanna greeted many people as they passed by, making it clear she also knew most of the town, even if only superficially asking after their general health.
Since Biffy had arrived at the academy, she’d wondered how anyone could put up with Breanna. She was so brash and almost naive, but she cared, about everyone. And Boo was adorable in his own way.
Either the battle, or simply seeing Breanna in a role she was more comfortable with made Biffy suddenly appreciate the loud, awkward nun all the more. Especially given the trust she’d shown in taking Biffy into battle, no matter how bizarre that had been.
Grinning, Biffy went with her all the way back to the academy. They both took their weapons back to the armoury first, Breanna insisting it was in poor taste to carry them when not needed in the building.
Biffy wasn’t going to argue, her arms hurting from the weight of the sword and crossbow she’d taken. Although she’d trained with both, she’d never spent the best part of a day using them in active combat. It was a world apart.
Before they’d gone much further, Sister Gelina appeared, evidently on the lookout for them.
“I understand that you were successful in lending aid today?” she asked. Sister Breanna nodded as Boo squeaked and Hairwig hooted. When Biffy didn’t also agree, everyone looked at her.
“Gladys seemed grateful,” Biffy said, feeling like they wanted some kind of response. Although they’d vanquished the tomatoes, she’d only beaten a bunch of aggressive vegetation. It wasn’t the same as fighting a coven of vampires or a pack of werewolves. Disappointment gnawed at her. There were still four more tasks to go before she could become a fighting nun and get her first official assignment. It felt a long way off, almost with no rhyme or reason.
“Come,” Sister Gelina said, turning on her heels and walking back the way she’d come. Biffy tried not to show her surprise, but she must have done a bad job, as Breanna looked at her and shrugged, trying to answer the question her face had involuntarily asked.
With nothing else to go on, they followed, Boo scampering along ahead of them and Hairwig still flying. At first Biffy was no more aware of what was happening, but as they moved deeper and deeper into the academy, she started to have her suspicions.
As they appeared outside Mother Superior’s office, Biffy allowed herself a brief smile. She’d been right.
They knocked, and a muffled voice responded. Sister Gelina either worked out what the gibberish meant or had the hearing needed to pick up on it, because she opened the door and pushed inside.
Mother Superior was standing by a filing cabinet, looking over an open file. When she saw them she closed the file, and tucked it inside. After taking a moment to look out of a nearby window at something, she let out a humph and finally gave the three of them her attention, her gaze lingering on the stains each of them bore on their clothes, pausing longest on Biffy’s hair. It gave her a sudden urge to look in a mirror.
“I assume you’re here to tell me the threat is dealt with?” Mother Superior asked, not giving Biffy any chance to assess her appearance herself.
Sister Gelina nodded as she stepped forward.
“Both Sister Breanna and our initiate, Biffy Snows, provided their assistance.”
“I can see that. They’ve evidently tangled with more than one of those overgrown... monstrosities.”
“There were ten of them,” Breanna replied, still grinning, oblivious to Mother Superior’s disgust. “Well, ten large ones. Biffy did a very good job handling most of the smaller ones too. Couldn’t have done it without her.”
Despite Mother Superior’s raised eyebrows and almost disbelieving stare, Biffy felt a flush of warmth spread through her. Breanna had praised her performance. It might not be fighting the evils of the night, but it was still being useful and making the world a better place.
As if a transformation had taken place, the mother’s face opened up into a large smile.
“That is wonderful news. If I remember correctly, an initiate’s fourth test concerns their ability and willingness to work with those around them and for those in need.”
Sister Gelina nodded to confirm the assumption.
“Then, Biffy Snows, I declare you having earned the honour and respect needed to consider task four passed. You may take tomorrow off to reflect, write to your loved ones and engage in any suitable activities you feel you’ve not had enough time for lately.”
Biffy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. For helping Breanna sort out the problem, she had been rewarded with another passed task. That left only three more to pass, and she knew what one of them was, a weapons test.
A moment later the mother dismissed them both, getting them to shut the door behind themselves.
More than ready for an opportunity to clean up, Biffy said goodbye to Breanna and headed for her tower room. She wanted a bath. A long, hot one.
Chapter 10
The sun was beginning to set on the following day when Biffy sighed and realised she had been staring out of the window for the last half an hour. An open book lay on the windowsill in front of her and she sat on one of the few box seats in the academy.
Because Mother Superior had offered her a break, everyone else had chosen to honour it. Somehow she had to survive the next few hours with absolutely nothing to do, after spending the entire day alone and unwanted.
Closing the book, she got to her feet. A moment later, Hairwig was on her shoulders, hooting in her ear.
“I know,” Biffy replied, doing her best to be careful as she collected up her few belongings and the book. With the sun so low in the sky, she needed to get somewhere safer, and soon.
The area was high up on the side of the academy and unlikely to be breached by any of the undead, but she knew it was unwise to take any chances.
Padding along the long gallery, Biffy headed for the nearest of the four heavy-duty doors that closed off the upper ramparts of the building at night. She’d been informed that once, a long time ago now, there had been so many fighting nuns that the whole building was safe any time of night or day, but that wasn’t the case now. There were just too few left.
Smiling at the two nuns already on the other side of the door, just in case trouble came their way, Biffy hurried to the nearest tower and made her way down the spiral steps. The academy had a lot of features that made her think of a castle, including the treacherous design of spiral stairs, each set not quite matching the tilt or height of the other ones. Only the few by her room were now familiar to her, forcing her to bra
ce herself against one wall as she descended this less familiar one now.
“Hoot,” said Hairwig when they reached the bottom.
“Thank you,” Biffy replied, her grin getting wider. A moment later her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d missed dinner. Not sure if anything would be served this late in the evening, Biffy hurried to the dining hall, the sounds of hustle and bustle as the first watch prepared for duty growing more faint and less frequent the further she went.
The dining hall was empty, but she noticed a small urn at one end of the room. Beside it was a ladle and several clean bowls, as well as a few packets of biscuits. Hesitating, Biffy looked around the room. Was this meant for anyone in particular?
“Help yourself, my dear,” a voice called from somewhere behind. Biffy jumped and spun, trying to spot the source, but there wasn’t a single habit to be seen.
As she looked around the room again, she spotted a raven sitting on the door lintel of the kitchen. Had the bird spoken?
“Help yourself,” it said a moment later, confirming her suspicions.
Picking up a bowl, Biffy shrugged. If anyone objected to her eating the soup, she could always say the raven had told her to do it. It must have been someone’s familiar.
Trying not to stare at the bird, still perched where it could survey the whole room, Biffy sat herself down at one of the long tables and encouraged Hairwig to get down and munch on one of the bits of meat she’d found in the orange broth.
Hairwig seemed pleased enough with the offering. She gave Biffy’s shoulder a rest.
Before Biffy could finish the contents, the sound of feet padding on the stone flooring came to her ears. She looked up to see Mother Superior walk in. The raven fluttered to her shoulder, settling in a very similar position to the one Hairwig usually preferred.
Not even looking her way, the mother fetched herself a bowl of the steaming food, topping it up as full as she evidently dared.